WINTER 2017 - Volume 64, Number 4 WWW.AFHISTORY.ORG know the past .....Shape the Future The Air Force Historical Foundation Founded on May 27, 1953 by Gen Carl A. “Tooey” Spaatz MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS and other air power pioneers, the Air Force Historical All members receive our exciting and informative Foundation (AFHF) is a nonprofi t tax exempt organization. Air Power History Journal, either electronically or It is dedicated to the preservation, perpetuation and on paper, covering: all aspects of aerospace history appropriate publication of the history and traditions of American aviation, with emphasis on the U.S. Air Force, its • Chronicles the great campaigns and predecessor organizations, and the men and women whose the great leaders lives and dreams were devoted to fl ight. The Foundation • Eyewitness accounts and historical articles serves all components of the United States Air Force— Active, Reserve and Air National Guard. • In depth resources to museums and activities, to keep members connected to the latest and AFHF strives to make available to the public and greatest events. today’s government planners and decision makers information that is relevant and informative about Preserve the legacy, stay connected: all aspects of air and space power. By doing so, the • Membership helps preserve the legacy of current Foundation hopes to assure the nation profi ts from past and future US air force personnel. experiences as it helps keep the U.S. Air Force the most modern and effective military force in the world. • Provides reliable and accurate accounts of historical events. The Foundation’s four primary activities include a quarterly journal Air Power History, a book program, a • Establish connections between generations. biennial symposium, and an awards program. Winter 2017 -Volume 64, Number 4 WWW.AFHISTORY.ORG know the past .....Shape the Future Features Dirty Little Secret in the Land of a Million Elephants: Barrel Roll and the Lost War William P. Head 7 Building Air Force Intellectual Capacity: An Innovative Look at Creating Air University and the Air Force Academy, 1918-1955 John T. Farquhar 29 The History of the Air Force Historical Foundation: An Extract John F. Kreis 37 Warden Revisited: The Pursuit of Victory Through Air Power John Andreas Olsen 39 Book Reviews The Last Fighter Pilot: The True Story of the Final Combat Mission of World War II By Don Brown with Capt. Jerry Yellin Review by Steve Agoratus 54 Eyeing the Red Storm: Eisenhower and the First Attempt to Build a Spy Satellite By Robert M. Dienesch Review by Rick W. Sturdevant 54 Bailout over Normandy: A Flyboy’s Adventures with the French Resistance and Other Escapades By Ted Fahrenwald Review by Daniel J. Simonsen 55 America’s First Rocket Company: Reaction Motors, Inc. By Frank H. Winter Review by Rick W. Sturdevant 56 A Shau Valor: American Combat Operations in the Valley of Death, 1963-1971 By Thomas R. Yarborough Review by Steven D. Ellis 58 So Far from Home: Royal Air Force and Free French Air Force Flight Training at Maxwell & Gunter... By Robert B. Kane Review by Steven D. Ellis 55 Fighter! Ten Killer Planes of World War II By Jim Laurier Review by Steve Agoratus 56 Hangar Flying, Below the Zone and Roles and Mission By Merrill A. McPeak . Review by Golda Eldridge 57 Airpower Applied: U.S., NATO, and Israeli Combat Experience By John Andreas Olsen, ed. Review by John F. O’Connell 58 Marked for Death: The First War in the Air By James Hamilton-Paterson Review by Steven D. Ellis 59 Hidden Figures: The American Dream & the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathemeticians Who... By Margot Lee Shetterly Review by Lawrence R. Benson 59 War Birds: The Diary of a Great War Pilot By Elliott White Springs Review by Robert Huddleston 62 The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State By Graeme Wood Review by John Cirafici 63 Milestones of Flight: The Epic of Aviation with the National Air and Space Museum By F. Robert Van Der Linden, Alex M. Spencer & Review by Steve Agoratus 59 Thomas J. Paone Departments President’s Message 4 Upcoming Events, In Memoriam, and Reunions 60 New History Mystery 64 Upcoming Events, Letters, and Reunions 65 New History Mystery 68 COVER: An aircraft of Air America’s fleet begins to land at a landing site in Laos. The Air Force Historical Foundation The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation Winter 2017 Volume 64 Number 4 Editor Richard I. Wolf Editor Emeritus Jacob Neufeld Air Force Historical Foundation Book Review Editor P.O. Box 790 Scott A. Willey Clinton, MD 20735-0790 (301) 736-1959 Advertising Jim Vertenten E-mail: [email protected] On the Web at http://www.afhistory.org Circulation Angela J. Bear Board of Directors Patron Members Lt Gen Christopher D. Miller, USAF (Ret.) Col Gerald F. Christeson, USAF (Ret.) Chairman Col Dennis M. Drew, USAF (Ret.) Lt Gen Charles L. Johnson II, USAF (Ret.) Maj Gen Charles J. Dunlap, Jr., USAF Air Power History (ISSN 1044-016X) is pro- First Vice Chairman Lt Col Raymond Fredette, USAF (Ret.) duced for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter by Lt Gen Nicholas B. Kehoe, USAF (Ret.) Dr. Rebecca Grant the Air Force Historical Foun dation. Second Vice Chairman Dr. Jerome V. Martin Prospective contributors should consult the Lt Gen Charles R. Heflebower, USAF (Ret.) Capt Robert Maxson, NOAA Lt Gen George D. Miller, USAF (Ret.) GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS at Secretary the back of this journal. Unsolicited manu- Mrs. Marilyn Moll Col Thomas A. Owens, USAF (Ret.) scripts will be returned only on specific Treasurer Col Bobby Moorhatch, USAF (Ret.) request. The Editor cannot accept responsibil- Col Clarence R. Anderegg, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Raymond C. Tagge, USAF (Ret.) ity for any damage to or loss of the manu- Col Scott C. Bishop, USAF (Ret.) script. The Editor reserves the right to edit President’s Circle Col William J. Dalecky, USAF (Ret.) manuscripts and letters. Lt Col (Dr.) Dik Daso, USAF (Ret.) Col William J. Dalecky, USAF (Ret.) Lt Gen Robert J. Elder, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Kenneth W. Sublett, USAF (Ret.) Address LETTERS and manuscripts to: CMSgt Robert L. Frank, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Steven Gress, Jr., USAF (Ret.) Benefactor Air Power History Ms. Jonna Doolittle Hoppes Mr. Darrell Dvorak 3043 Sunny Ridge Drive Maj Gen Timothy C. Jones, USAF (Ret.) Odenton, MD 21113 e-mail: [email protected] Gen Lloyd W. Newton, USAF (Ret.) DONATIONS MSgt Keith A. Reed, USAF (Ret.) Mr. Michael Clarke Lt Gen Robert J. Elder, USAF (Ret.) Correspondence regarding missed issues or Lt Gen Charles L. Johnson II, USAF (Ret.) changes of address should be addressed to Emeritus the CIRCULATION OFFICE: Maj Gen Dale W. Meyerrose, USAF (Ret.) Lt Gen Nicholas B. Kehoe, USAF (Ret.) Chairman Maj Gen Dale W. Meyerrose, USAF (Ret.) Air Power History Lt Gen Christopher Miller, USAF (Ret.) P.O. Box 790 Gen Lloyd W. Newton, USAF (Ret.) Clinton, MD 20735-0790 Editor, Air Power History Robert and Kim Nimmons (301) 736-1959 Richard I. Wolf Maj Gen John Patton, USAF (Ret.) e-mail: [email protected] Pratt & Whitney ADVERTISING Editor Emeritus, Air Power History Lt Gen Stephen Wood, USAF (Ret.) Jacob Neufeld CORPORATE SPONSORS Jim Vertenten P.O. Box 790 Clinton, MD 20735-0790 Gold Level ($10,000 or more) Staff (301) 736-1959 Lt Col James A. Vertenten, USAF (Ret.) Lockheed Martin Corporation e-mail: [email protected] Secretary to the Board and Executive Director Copyright © 2017 by the Air Force Historical Mrs. Angela J. Bear, Office Manager Foundation. All rights reserved. Periodicals postage paid at Clinton, MD 20735 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send change of address to the Circulation Office. 2 AIR POWER History / WINTER 2017 From the Editor In this issue, we cover a more narrowly-focused group of topics, with combat operations and planning predominating, and a shorter study on the education of airmen. Our first article is an extended history of the Laotian portion of the conflict in Southeast Asia. Laos was the much less well-known war that the U.S. was involved in, but one which had a greater impact on the Vietnam conflict than was generally known. Dr. William P. Head, a previous contributor, has provided an excellent overview of a very scattered cam- paign. The second article is by one of our former award winners, Dr. John T. Farquhar, who examines the events which surrounded the creation of the United States Air Force Academy as well as Air University, including the intellectual debt owed to the Air Corps Tactical School. Our third article is a brief excerpt from a history of the Air Force Historical Foundation, written by John F. Kreis, a long-time supporter of the Foundation, and someone who often contributes his time and effort to making it a success. The fourth article is an extended look at Col. John Warden, USAF (Ret.), who played an integral and controversial role in the air campaign plan for Operation Desert Storm. The author, John Andreas Olsen, (a colonel and attache in the Norwegian Air Force) has con- tributed to our publication previously, and provides some deep insight into the process of translating ideas into action. It’s very fascinating reading. As always, we include the usual accompanying book reviews, of which we have a scant five this issue. The changes in publishing have reduced the available books to review, so if you have read a book that seems to fit our subject category, and would like to contribute a review, take a look at the contact information on page 59 to send it to our book review edi- tor.